Machine for packing matches.



O. H. PALMER dz M. PARIDON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 1 C. H. PALMER & M. PARIDON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

C. H. PALMER & M. PARIDON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

1,01 6,486. Patented Feb. 6, 1912 l8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. H. PALMER & M, PARIDON MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED 16113.24, 1909.

1,016,43Q, Patented Feb. 6,1912.

13 SHEETSSHEET 4.

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O. H. PALMER & M. 'PARIDON. MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 24, 1909. 1,016,436. Patented Feb. 6,1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 5,

G. H. PALMER & M. PARIDON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES. APPLICATION FILED MARI24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

13 SHEETSSHBBT G.

G. H. PALMER & PARIDON. MACHINE 'FOR PACKING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

o VII/7177177171717! IA 73 HIM Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET '7.

O. H. PALMER & M. PARIDON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patentd Feb. 6, 1912.

13 SHEETSSHEET 8.

anus/21935: "M/ELEMMV I 16W G. H. PALMER & M. PARIDON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING MATGHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

1,016,436. Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

is sums-sum" 9.

Malay/L 19W.

QM 5. w:

C. H. PALMER &. M. PARIDON. MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

1,016,436. Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

' 13 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

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G. H. PALMER & M. PARIDON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 11 G. H. PALMER & M. PARIDON. MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24 1909.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

(1-H. PALMER & M. PARIDON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6, I912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

UNITED s'r 'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

"riIARL s H. PALMER, or AKRON, AND MICHAEL PARIDON, or BARBERTON, OHIO, assIqNoIis TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- 'TION OF ILLINOIS.

Akron and Barberton, in the county of Sun'r" mit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for "Packing Matches, of which the 'following is as'pecification.

This invention,.relates:;to mach'ines for packing matches in boxes; having reference particularly, though not exclusively, f to packing or filling machineswhi'ch are associatedjvith match making apparatus and are' adapted to receive the matches as rapidly as they are produced, and deliver them in an orderly manner to the box trays or other receptacles.

Briefly stated, the primary object of our invention is to provide simple'and' efiicient means whereby matches shall 'beexpeditiously supplied to, and arranged compactly and parallelly within, box trays. Another object is to providemeans whereby protection strips shall-I be accurately formed and applied tot-he filled trays, and still another object is to provide means whereby the said trays shall be automati cally inserted into their shucks' or covers.

Other objects of the invention-will inalter appear.-

In that form of embodiment of the invention which we have herein illustrated, we employ a reeiprocative trough-like hopper arrai'iged adj acentto, and extended laterally from. the discharging end of the matchmachinc. the extension being provided at dit' ,i'ercnt points in its length with bottom open- 'ings to which each of the trays is presented in succession by .1 conveyer: measuringchambers in communication with each of the openings; means by which the said chain hers are caused temporarily to depend into, and he inciosed by, the subjacent trays,

whereby prescribed quantities of matches are successively supplied to each of the trays with the heads of the ll'iatches of one qua-n}- tity lying in one direction and the heads of the matches of the other quantity lying in .the opposite direction within the tray; devices whereby the contained matches/are shaken down in their trays and distributed uniformly and parallelly therein: a magazine for supplying blank protection strips, and feed and plunger i'uechanism whereby Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 24, 1909.

here

MACHINE FORPACKING MATCHES.

Patented Feb. 6, I912;

' Serial No. 485,469.

novel features of construction vand organiza-- tion, parts. and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described .and claimed, it being understood that, our

invention is not limited to the particular form or forms of mechanism illustrated, as in the'light thereof the same may be widely varied without "departing" from the fair spirit o'fthe invention.

In the drawings-Figure I 'is a front elevation of a packing 'or' filling machine embodying our, invention in a preferred form, only so much of the match making machine horizontal trough of the match making machine being omitted. Fig. 3 is a longitushowing, in dotted outline, the raising and lowering devices for the tray holders, and also other parts.' Figs. T'and 8 are cross sections of the said'extension, as on the lines 7 7 and S R. respectively, of Fig. 6

Figs 9 is a perspective view of the match rackinghar and the spring pressure member thereon. Fig. to is a partial transverse vertlcal'section through the extension and ad:

juncts. as on the line L()-*]() of Fig. 3, the

boXti-ays being omitted from ,the. elevated tray holders. Fig. 10* is a detail. in front and edge elevation.- oi an oscillating blade device for straightening and settling the matches within the trays immediately upon being shown as is necessary to illustrate the n yention. Fig. 2 is a plan ofFig. 1, the devices for feeding the'matches along the their iiassage beyond the first. measuring (it i chamber. Fig. '11 is a detail, in perspective, of tine of thetray-raising brackets in advance of 'said measuring chamber. Fig. 1:2 is a partial transverse section through the bedj' adjacent to the expanding device, as oh the line 1212.' of Fig. 5, showing one ot-the links of the tray conveyer with' its tray-holder elevated by the yoke frame, and the tray in engagement with the expanding device. Fig. 13 is a sectional detail of the extension adjacent the second i'neasuring chamber,- showing, in elevation, the final straightening and settling devices and, in

the strip-forming and inserting plunger and the strip presscr in down position,with the strip applied to the filled tray. Fig 1? is adetail of friction spring for the strip presser. Fig. 18 'is a perspective view of the said. plunger, presser, and adjuncts, as removed from the machine. Fig. 19 is a horizontal. section of Fig. 18 on a plane above the strip former, the plunger and presser being omitted. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the strip presser, detached.

Fig. 21 is a detail of the functional end of the strip forming and inserting plunger,

as inverted. Fig. 22 is a detail of an .adjustable throat piece for the strip containing magazine. Fig. 23 is a partial transverse vertical section, as on the line 23'-23 of Fig. 2, showing, among other things, the devices for ejecting the filled trays successively from the conveyor and inserting them into shucks, the parts" being indicated by dotted lines in the position which they occupy when a tray has been pushed into its shuck. 24 a messianic elevation of Fig. 23 showing the cam and "le .cr connections for the ejecting and inserting devices. Fig. 25'illustrates, in perspective, a link of the tray conveyor and its tray holder, as

separated. Fig. 26 is a perspective view ot i an ordinary match tray. Fig. 27 is a similar view of the same, after its ends have been spread by the expanding device to facilitate the application of a protection strip thereto.

Fig. 28 is a view of a blank for a protection strip. Fig. 29 is a view of the strip as termed. Fig. 30 is a view of a filled box tray with a protection strip applied thereto. Fig. 31 is a sectional elevation of a form of the tray conveyor and the tray elevating frame, wherein the latter directly engages and acts upon the tray to raise and lower the same, the adjacent portion of the inclined trough or hopper extension being illustrated. Fig. 32 is a partial plan of the conveyor and. elevating frame shown in Fig. 31, a part of the inclined extension being shown. Fig. '33 is a transverse section through the fixed tray holder, showing its lip-standing sidp guides.

1 is a portion of the main frame of a match making machine, 2 a portion of the endless match carrier, 3 a reciprocating head carrying a row of punches for ejecting the matches row by row from the carrier, and 4 a driven shaft of the machine.

5 a horizontal trough supported at and transversely of the discharging end of the match machine on a plane below the line of discharge of the matches from the carrier and adapted to receive the stream of falling matches with their heads in one direction. This trcugh is slidiugly supported upon guide blocks 6 rising from a suitable bed 7, and is given a rapid longitudinal reciprocating or jarring motion in order to agitate the contained matches and cause them to settle ('(;1I11')tl(fll within the trough. The motion is conveniently secured through a bell crank lever 8. one end ot which is,pivoted to a depending bracket on the trough and the other end is equipped with a roller which rides upon a peripherally scalloped cam 9 on a driven shaft.- 10, and is held in 0pcrative engagement with said cam by means of'u suitably-dis )oscd spring 11.

Passing through and along the upper portion at the trough is the horizontal run of an endless conveyor 12 which is provided with regularly-spaced transverse blades 13, the distance between adjacent: blades being less than the length of a match. This conveyer passes around curved .guidc pieces 14 at the respective ends of the trough, and

also around a pair of overlying guide wheels 15. one of which latter is amn-opriately geared with, and continuously driven from, the shaft. 10. ".lhc traveling conveyor with its blades progressively enters and passes along the trough, thereby insuring the orderly disposition of the matches transversely oi the trough, and conveying them in parallelism to the discharging end of the latter. The mechanism just indicated being of known construction, requires no detailed description herein. 4

The dischargingcnd of the trough has ailixed thereto an inclined extension 16 into which the matches art;progressively delivered by the comcyer. This extension-preferably comprises an inclined bottom 17, and side walls 18. the bottom being slidlngly supported and guided on a post 19 rising time; a bed or table '20, and the lower ends of the side walls slidingly embracing a sta- 'lionary vertically inclined end piece 21 which is allixed to a suitably-located bracket. This piece closes the lower end of the extension, and at the same time, by virthrough which predetermined quantities of matches are discharged to box trays :25, or

other suitable" receptacles, properly presented to or below such openings. The trough and lie extenslon constitute, in effect, a shallow or elongated trough-like match-feeding hopper of a width to receive and support 111 substantial parallelism a mass of loosely-ctintamed matches, to which hopper short, rapid longitudinal reciproea-- tions are imparted by the devices above mentioned, during the operation of the match machine.' Any other suitable devices for agitating the hopper may be employed.-

Inorder to obviate any liability of ignition of the heads of the matches, by trictional contact with the bottom of the hop per, during their traverse along the latter, we provide such bottom, preteraliilv in both its horizontal and inclined portions. with a longitluliiial groove or way 26 adjacent the outer wall ofth'e hopper, which groove or way freely receives the heads of the lower most row oi matches within the hopper.

The sides of the extension, at points in advance of the opening are oil-set outwardly, as at 27. and the lateralcdgcs'ott the bottom oi the extens on just below the offst; are prorided wi h slots .28 ot' sutiicicnt length to permit the tree escape of matches that may" have slowed lengthwise ot the 'e:-:- tension. (See Figs; "3. 7, and Such disarrangcd matches, during the rapid agie tation of the extension. tend to work toward the side walls and thus enter the o'llset' portions of the latter and pass to the bottom slots.

To assist the feed of the matches along the extension. and obviate any liability oji their accumulating within and overflowing the extension, we preferably prmide a re ciprocating bar '29 (l igs. l, and. 9) which overhangs the extension longitiaiiually thereof, and rests yieldingly upon the con tained matches; The bar is pivoted at its lower end to a crank 30, on one end of a shortshai't having its hearings in a suital'ily dis esed bracket. 32 and irovided with a pulley 31 which isconnccted by means of a belt 33 with a pulley 3st on a driven shaft 35, hereinafter described. To insure the eiiicie'nt feeding action of the bar on the matches, its lower side is provided at inter? vals with V-shapedstuds or projections 36. The free end of the bar 29 is preferably the hopper can be controlled.

equipped with a bracket piece 37 which embraces the extension and rests upon laterally projecting lugs 38 on the latter. Thus the bar is supported in a normal down position along the top of the extension, but has capacity for free upward movement to compensate tor the varying heights of the dcscending stream of matches within the hopper. i

The natural tendency of the matches, by

reason of their heavier head ends, is to work over to the outer side of the inclined hopper as they are being shaken and racked down, and hence when the hopper is full, or has a surcl'iarge of matches, there is liability or" the i'natches overflowing at the lower portion of thehopp'er, particularly when the lower end of the racking bar is raised, as illustrated iul ig. 1. To obviate suclrliability we provide a spring pressure member a which rests yieldingly upon the matches and is reciprocated concurrently with the racking bar. One end oithis member is allixed to the bar, as at a, extending thence to and beyond the lower end-of the hopper and. bearing upon. the stationary end piece 21. Preferably this member comprises a piece of spring wire bent or doubled to form two, parallel limbs .44 with their which embraces the bar and is supported (See Figs. 9 and 10.)

and guided thereby. The lower portion of the spring member is corrugated, as at a, to engage the opposing matches in the adjacent; part of the hopper, and thus, during tire longitudinal movement of the inen'ibcr by the racking bar, tend to press such imitches yieldingly upward and prevent an excess accumulation thereof at the lower end of the hopper.

ll hile our invention in. its broader aspect contemplates a construction wherein the matches are dischal' ed directly from the hopper o 'ienings, 23, 24, to match receptacles progressively presented thereto, yet in the particular form of the invention herein illustrated, the hopper is provided at each of such openings with depending side walls 759 which extend transversely of the hopper and are cmis'tructed and arranged to co-act with the umicrlying box trays to form measuring tfllzillilhI-f... tor the matches supplied to the trays, each of the clnnnbers being provided with a suitable valve or gale, as 40, whercljiy the supply of n'iatches thereto from The two valves or-gates are or may be tu'actically similar in tainstructionand operation, and, therefore, a description of one will sutlice. Each valve or gate, in the preferred form herein illustraterl, comprises a plate ,or blade movable transversely of the n'leasuring chan'iber in a plane immediately below the 43 rising from the table 9.0.

hopper opening, the wall of the chamber being provided with an approprlate slot/t1 for the-reception and'guidance of the gate. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) One end of the gate is afiixed to a horizontal slide 42 which is mounted in suitable guide ways in a bracket I Depending from this slide is a lug .44 which is c0nnected by means of a link 45 with the upper arm of a vertical lever 46 which is fulorumed on a bracket 47 depending from the table. The lower end of this lever is provided with a stud or roller which enters the peripheral cam groove of a cam 48 on the driven shaft 35 above referred to. This shaft is pro-- vided with a pulley 49-which is connected by means of a belt 50 with a pulley 51 on the shaft 4: of the match machine. A su1table clutch connection 52 is provided between the pulley and its shaft t, so that the I pulley may be rendered active or idle to permit the stopping or the starting of the shaft at will, during the running of the match machine. The contour of the cam 48 is'such that the slideis maintained for a stated interval of time in closing position under the opening, then retracted t0.opening position, and thereafter immediately returned to closing position.

The two valves or gates are mounted and arranged to operate concurrently, but as their positions in respectto the hopper are ner ends of the gates.

reversed,that 'is, one on the left handside of its chamber and the other on the right hand side of its chamber (as viewed in Fig. 3)-*the two cams accordingly occupy reverse positions upon the shaft as indicated.

passes transversely of the hopper and directly under the two measuring chambers in such manner that the trayscarried there- I by are advanced firstbeneath the chamber for the opening 23. (such chamber being herein termed the first chamber) to receive therefroinasupply of matches with their heads in one direction. and-then carried around and back beneath the other chamber (herein termed the second chamber) to re-- ceive therefrom another supply of matches. with their heads in an opposite direction to those of the others. The box-trays are successively supplied by an attendant to the.

conveyer at a point in advance of thefirst chamber, a suitable receptacle 58 for a supply of trays being conveniently supported on the table.

The tray-conveyer, in an eflicient form thereof, comprises a series of links or plates .79 provided at their lateral edges with perforated lugs 59* by means of which they are hinged together by pins, and provided along their under sides with gear teeth 60 with which mesh appropriate gear wheels 61 for impelling the conveyer, the ends of the plates being slidingly fitted to, and supported by, the guide ways 55 in the channel of the table. In the present instance, two

suitably-disposed pairs of gear wheels 61 for in'ipelling the conveyer are employed. The gear wheels of each pair are carried by separate shafts 62 which have their bearings in brackets 63 depending from the table, the inner ends of such shafts being provided with bevel gear Wheels 64 in mesh with a bevel wheel 65 on a'longitudinallydisposed shaft. 66.niounted in bearings in brackets 67 also depending from the table.

Thus. when the shaft 66 is driven the shafts (12, through the reverse 'bevel gearing. are driven in opposite directions to each other in a manner to impel the oppositely traveling parallel portions of the endless conveyor. The shaft 66 is provided with a gear wheel 67 which meshes with a larger gear wheel 68 on a stud shaft 69. the latter wheel being provided on one face with a series of uniformly spaced studs or rollers 70 which project intothe path of an appropriate cam 71, on the driven shaft The contour of this cam. and the position relative thereto of the studs or rollers. are such that during the rotation of the 0am it intermittently im pels the wheel 68..that is. the cam is pro-, vided with a spiral portion a which enters successively between the adjacent studs and impels the wheel a predetermined distance. and plane portions 7 which at the end of each step or movement of the wheel. succeed the spiral portion between the pins .and effectually lock the wheel temporarily at rest. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) Through the gearing described. the intermittent movement of the wheel 68 is transmitted to the tray conveyer. the links or plates whereof are thus successively advanced below the openings of the hopper. It is to be understood. of course. that any other suitable or approved driving mechanism for the trayconveyer may be employed.

.On each of the conveyer plates is supported a holder for a box tray. This holder in a simple form (Fig. 25l eomprises a bottom plate 72 having on its upper side two parallel walls 73 spaced to correspond with the width f the tray to be filled and each of a length slightly less than that of the tray. The ends of the hot-tom plataextend slightly beyond the walls, 73, as indicated. Depending from the plate are pins 74 which are slidingly fitted to perforated bosses in the conveyor link 5%) so as to provide for vertical movement of the holder independently of the conveyer.

During each dwell ofthe conveyor the tray holders directly beneath the openings, 23, 24, of the hopper, are raised and lowered. lVhen these holders are in elevated position, the trays supported thereby receive the depending walls of the proximate measuring chambers, those of the first chamber extending nearto the bottom of the tray and those of the other chamber extending par tially into its subjacent tray. (See Fig. 3-.) The slides 40 are then retracted to permit a quantity of matches to fall from the hopper into each of the measuring chambers, and are then moved inward to cut ofi the feed. This being done, the holders of the box trays are lowered to clear the bottom of the measuring chambers and permit the contents of the latter to be freely discharged into the trays. The conveyer is impelled in the direction indicated by the arrows in. Figs. 2 and 5, so that each of the trays-is brought first beneath the chamber in communication with the opening 23 and sup pliedwith a predetermined quantity of matches therefrom, and then carried to and beneath the chamber in communication with the opening 2% and supplied with a quantity of matches therefromfthe walls of the latter chamber extendmg down to or near to the top of the first charge of matches within the tray. By the construction just described, it will be seen that when the tray reaches the second chamber, such tray has been 'given a halfturn horizontally, and in consequence, the heads of the second charge of matches when delivered thereto, are disposed oppositely t0 the heads of the first charge within the tray. (See Fig. 2.)

"It is to be noted that the internal distance between the walls of each measuring chamher is less than the length of a match in order to insure the orderly feeding of the matches to the tray. The charge as the tray is lowered, flows within and throughout the length of the tray, the free delivery of the matches to, and their distribution within, the tray being contrilmtcd to by the rapid agitation of the measuring cham her, and also prefer-{duly by certain tray guiding and agitating devices hereii'iafter described.

' limbs of which extend above the table and its contents. A simoleand elhcient. means for raisin are provided at their upper ends with horizontall y disposed brackets 77 having on their inner sides grooves or channels 78 which freely receive the projecting bottom ends of the holder when the latter is brought into position beneath a measuring chamber; Depending from'the yoke is a rod 79, the lower end of which-is bifurcated as at 80, ig. 10) to slidingly embrace the shaft 35 and is provided with a laterally disposed roller 81 which enters'the face cam 75 on said shaft.

The contour of this cam is such that during its rotation, the yoke frame is vertically rec'iprocated to efieot the timely movement of the tray holder (or holders) engaged there? with; a suflicient dwell being afforded at the limit of each stroke to permit the passage of a holder (with its filled or partially filled tray) from, and that of the succeeding jacent to and inrear of the first measuring chamber, the upper end of a plate or blade 82,

the lower. edge of which swings freely into the interior of the tray when the tray is advanced beyond the latter chamber and drops by gravity upon the matches within the tray. As more clearly seen in Figs. 1, l0 and 10, the upper end of the plate is bent to form a hook 83 which is hung on a stud 8:1 projecting from a piece which is. affixed to one of the guide brackets adjacent the hopper, the lower end of the plate being bent to form a lip which rests freelyon the matches within the tray. To effect the bodily jarring of the box tray lengthwise thereof and at right angles to the contained matches when the blade 82 is resting thereon, we affix to the hopper an arm provided with a horizontally grooved head 84* which is arranged to receiye the proximate projecting end of the tray holder and thus rapidly tap the same during the agitation of the hopper.

A spring strip 84 conveniently secured to a bracket 85 on the table takes-against the opposite projecting end of theholder and (See Figs. 2 and 5;} will be seen that as the box trays-are carried onward by the conveyer from the first measuring chamber, they are successively subjected. to the action of the blade 82 and its associated arring devices.

'0 preferably make each palr of grooved -or channeled brackets 77 of the verticallv reciprocating yoke frames of sutlicient lib Thus it length to receive two adjacent box-tray holders so that when one tray is being raised and lowered in respect to its measuring chamber, the adjacent tray is beingcorrespondingly raised and lowered for reasons now to be explained.

Rising from the bed, adjacent to and in advance of the first measuring chamber, is an arch-like bracket frame 86 which bridges the path of the conveyer, said frame having formed or affixed thereto a depending web or plate 87 with beveled or inclined ends as indicated. This plate overhangs the path of the conveyer and is so disposed relatively thereto that' the empty tray is being raised, before its passage beneath the. measuring chamber, the mner end walls of the tray, medially thereof, are forced against the inclined ends of the plate, which thereupon efiectually expands the opposing ends of the tray and insures the complete opening thereof. (See Figs. 2, 9, 10, 12 and 27.)

Such opening of the tray is especially advantageous if and when protection strips are to be appliedto the filled box trays, as

will be. hereinafter described.

To brace the ends of the box tray while it is being acted upon by the plate 87, we preferably aflix to the brackets of the adjacent lifting frame permanent end pieces '88. between which the tray snugly enters when it passes upon said brackets, these end pieces being vertically recessed or bifurcated to permit the entrance of the plate 87 into the tray and the medial spreading of the ends of the latter. (See Figs 10.

these end pieces two strips 89 of spring metal which extend freely under the hopper and are appropriately spaced to clasp the ends of the tray beneath the measuring chamber. The free end of one of these strips bears against. a vertical bracket piece 90 on the outer wall of the hopper, which piece is of sutiicient length to be and remain in engagemcnt'with the strip at. all times. The strips thus not only insure the guidance and maintenance of the tray witlrrelation to the adjacent measuring. chamber, but also by reason of the jarring given to the tray by the opposing action of the hopper and the strips, contribute to the scttlin'gand distribution of the n'iatch s within the tfiay, as above re- Ve conveniently attach to said pieces embrace the lower cd is raised. after the tray has passed the second measuring cha1nber.-such edge bears upon the top of the matches and by its reciprocations transversely of the matches serves to distribute and compact them uniformly within the box.

We preferably provide the lower portion of the plate 92 with a. pa r of vertically movable pieces 94 which normally depend below the. scalloped edge of the plate and bear yieldingly upon the matches when the tray is raised and initially lo \'.-rral. such pieces thus aiding in straightening and settling the matches within the tray. The of the ,plate, as indicated. and are conieniently united aml held in position by rivets $15 or the like. passing loosely through icrtical slots 96 in the plate.

Secured to the depcaiding member 92 of the bracket. 91. on its respective sides, are the-upper ends of a pair of "icl .lin; diverging plates 97 between which enters the upper portion of the tilled tray when it is raised as just mentioned. such plates thereupon acting against. the ends of any matches that may project beyond the sides of the tray and effectually (ramming or pressing themback into position within the tray. (See Figs. 4, 13 and 14.)

The filled trays are carried by the conveyer to mechanism wherein "protection strips, as 98, are applied to the trays. which mechanism in a simple and etiicient form is of the following character. reference being had more especially to Figs. 15 tin-32 inclusive. Atiixed to the table at a suitable pointbeyond the second measuring chamber is a bridge bracket 99 which crosses the path of the conveyor, t'he inncr vertical walls of such bracket being preferably provided with beveled or cam projections use between which the tray holders pass. -'.lhese proopcu vertical magazine 100 for thc r4'n- .-ption ferred to in connection with the agitation of the measuring chamber. and 5.)

(See Figs. '1-

On'the side of the hopper adjacent to j and in rear of the second measuring chamher. is secured a bracket 91 having atits outer end a depending plate 92 which ovcrhangs-the path of the conveyor and par- I takes. of the reciprocations of the hopper. The lower edge of this plate isscalloped or roughened, as indicated at 93. Fa 14, and

is so disposed that when the filledbo'x tray are bent into proper shape.

of a pile of strip blanks (/1). tlpon thrbrackct. is formed or sccurcd a horizontal bed 101 within which is provided a guideway for a slice 102 which affords a bottom for lllc magav ine and at the same time constitutcs a feeder for the strip blanks and a mandrel or formcr upon which such blanks This slide is rta'iprocatcd transversely of the n'iagazinc. and parallel to thc umlerlyiug portion of the tray convcycr. One end ofthe slide is connected by means of a link 103 with the upper arm of a lever lt'l-twhich is fulcrumcd to :1 depending bracket 10? on the table. the lower arm of the lever being provided with a stud or roller 106 which is maintained normally in operative engageill Lmaaae ment with the cam surface 107 of a cam body 108 on. the shaft 35 by means'ot a spring secured tothe upper arm of the lever and to the table. The contour of this cam surface is such as to effect in conjunction. with the opposing action of the spring the timely reciprocation of the slide. When the slide is retracted its forward end lies directly beneath the n'iagazine and receives and supports the lowermost blank of the pile. This end of the slide is recessed on its upper surface transversely thereof, and is provided with a series of perforations 11 9, which communicate with a chamber 11.0 formed Within the slide, suchcluunbcr being conveniently connected by means of a flexible tube 111 with a pipe or trunk 112 leading to a suitable air-exhausting pump, or the like, whereby the air can be exhausted from the chamber to effect the attraction of the blank to and its retention upon the upper perforated end of the slide. When till the slide is moved forward its recessed. perforated portion, bearingthe blank, is projeeted outwardly beyond the magazine, a suitable throat or opening 113 for the exit of the blank being formed at the bottom of the magazine. In order that the wid t.h of this throat or opening may be nicely adjusted to accord with the thickness of the blank, we enlarge the throated portion of the magazine and fit therein a rib or bar 11 1 formed on a. plate 115 which is adjustably sccuredto the proximate wall of the magazine by set-screws 116 passing through elongated holes in such plate. (See Fig. 15.) The width of the slide 102 is slightly less than the internal length of a box tray and the length of the blank is somewlnnt greater than that of the tray, so that the ends of the strip project beyond the lateral edges of the slide. (Figs. 16 and 18.!) Supported on the wall of the magazine, di rectly above the projecting end 016' the slide, is a guide or housing 117 within which is slidingly supported a vertical plunger 11%. On the lower end of this-plunger is fornnad or secured a. (.u'oss-bar 11D baring at its ends two depending exteriorly beveled or inclined jaws 120 which are spaced and arranged. to omln'ace the projecting cud oi the slide when the plunger is depressed. 'ihcse jaws are preferably scpzu'alc pieces lifted to roccsses in the ends oi the cross-bar and secured thereto by screws 121. The lower surface oi the bar is provided with short depending needle points, 192, and with shortbcvclcd teeth or prolul'wranvvs 19 i, tor a purpose below oxplainmil. (See Fig. i l.) The upper end of the plunger is provided with a latciulluexlcudiug arm 1%, which is connected by means (:1 a link 12;? with one arm of u borimmlul lover121$.lhcotlu3r urn.- j

oi which is provided with a stud or roller Witha cam surface 128 of the cam body 108, by means of a spring 126' secured to the lever and to the table, whereby during the rotation oi. said cam body the plunger timely reciprocated. j

The roo' unuliro relation of the parts just described is such that when ablank b is projected bmicatl'i the plunger the latter descend.- iorausc its jaws lo embrace the forward portion of the. slide and. press down the projecting ends otl'be blank, the needle points 12; at the same time pcn lrating the body o'llbc blank. The slide is then retracted! thus leaving the strip between the jaws, the}down-turned ends of such strip by their natural ieudcni to spring outnor sides o't-ibe jaws. In the continued downwm-d movement of the plunger, the outer beveled sides of its jaws engage the inner sides oi the expanded end walls of the tray and ellectually enter the depending ends of the strip between such walls and the matches. (See Fig. 17.) By providing the teeth or protubcrances123onthe under surface of the cross bar 119, a uh'iform engagement of such bar with the body ot the strip is insured, and. the otherwise liability of irregular impact due to the'presence ofv lint, or the like, on the strip, is avoided. \Vben the plunger is raised the protection strip thus formed and applied, remains within the tray: another filled tray isad- Vanccd lo the stripa'pplying mechanism, and

which horizontally embrace the bar 119 adjacent the respective jaws thereof. These members are connected by a yoke 130, and the latter is provided w1th a vertical rod 13]. which is slidingly fitted to perforated.

guide lugs 132 on the housing 11,7 of'the plunger; a spring 133. preteral'ily of NI- lorm, being sprung between the housing and plunger. 'l-he vcrtial space between the limbs of each of the members 129 issvmowl'iat wider than theplunger bar, and hence such nuanbcrs have capacity for in.- dopcndcnt vertical movement relatively to the plunger, the spring by its frictional aclion upon the rod 1231' maintaining Said members yieldingly in place. By this construction it will be seen that upon the initial descent of the plunger, the lower limbs of the pressor members 12.) bear upon theslrip ou lhc slide 102. and there remain while the 127 which is hold in operative cngaircmem 5 pluu irr '(Ulll'llllHH its descent: but when 

